Bobcats return skill, need size

It can sound repetitive, but every small rural school faces an uphill battle each year with replacing enough bodies to fill out its football team.

But there's also the question of just how damaging are the losses. It's one first-year Robert F. Munroe football coach Jimmy Harris has to ask himself and begin rectifying.

The weight room can only put on so much muscle from season's end last year to season's start in just four weeks. Sometimes you just need big kids. Sometimes you just don't have any.

Harris is looking to solidify Munroe's offensive line, but if that happens, the Bobcats return most all of its skill position players off a team that went 7-3 in 2013 and 2-2 in the North Florida Football Conference.

"We're very pleased with the guys that return," Harris said. "They've got some experience. We have seven seniors. They took it to teams last year and had a good year by school standards. And we were able to overcome a lot of adversity."

While Munroe will miss Myles Edwards' 1,000 all-purpose yards, 16 combined touchdowns and 87 tackles, and Jalyn Lewis' impactful offensive and defensive contributions, the Bobcats return a senior quarterback in Will Harris with plenty of other experienced pieces around him.

Bo Bailey ran for 954 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior last year, while rising seniors Daniel Winburn and Daron Barkley added another 400 yards and five touchdowns jointly.

Bobcats rising junior Cole Skipper will try to add to his receiving totals and defensive presence, as last year's team leader in interceptions. Still, much of Munroe's success will depend on what it does up front.

"We've got to have some linemen develop," Harris said.

"I think coaches at all small schools will tell you too, we've got to stay healthy. The balance you have to strike between learning to be physical and going all out where you just bang yourself up in practice is a challenge. But I do believe you do have to be physical to be successful."

Harris started as a coach many years ago at Bainbridge (Ga.) Middle School, and navigated a number of moves across the state line. He spent time at the old Quincy Shanks High, where he coached former FSU player Abdul Howard, among others.

A stint in school administration in 2002 progressed until last year when he shook off the rust to join the Bobcats as an assistant. Through a series of unfortunate head coaching problems, Harris ascended to the throne and hopes to provide stability to kids who have been through much.

"I feel old as dirt," said Harris, 54.

"A lot of things have changed, but the fundamental aspects remain the same year to year. But we've got a bunch of young kids who are ready to learn and get better. That's made the early transition better."

The Bobcats have had a regular 16 players come out to summer workouts. Harris believes Munroe will be able to field a junior varsity team and reach a final tally of 40 persons for its football program.

In the NFFC, Munroe has found complementary schools, such as primary rival Aucilla Christian, plus Maclay, John Paul II Catholic, Rocky Bayou, and Gainesville Oak Hall.

It will open the season against St. Augustine's St. Joseph Academy, and overall the feeling is one of enjoyment playing regular foes year to year with anyone able to win.

"We're independents by FHSAA standards, but being apart of this conference with similar schools, playing for a conference championship, it gives the kids something to play for on Friday," Harris said.

"And there are some good schools in our area. It's nice to have that because it almost seems like you're playing a rival every week. That adds to the spice of the game."